Haarlem ChristmasInage by Jill Wellington ©
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Things to do in Haarlem this December

Happy holidays to all our expatsHaarlem readers, December has finally arrived! Sinterklaas kicked off the festivities but that is only the beginning! This month promises a variety of festive events from the much anticipated Christmas Markets…
Boom Marketing
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Boom Marketing 2019

Join the first International Marketing Conference & Comedy in Amsterdam! and explore what's on in branding, marketing and technology. Boom Marketing is an interesting and fun 1 day marketing event with sessions about Branding, Neuromarketing,…
Dan Glasstetter ©
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Can you really mountain bike in the Netherlands?

Mountain biking in the Netherlands: An uphill climb or a flat disappointment? I used to live in Boise, Idaho, a small city situated on the sunny slopes of the Rocky Mountains in the western United States. Boise is renowned for its isolated…
boom marketing
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Save the date: 20 November, Boom Marketing 2019

Explore what's on in branding, marketing and technology Boom Marketing is an interesting and fun 1 day marketing event with sessions about Branding, Neuromarketing, Data analytics, Artificial Intelligence, Growth Hacking, Voice, E-commerce…
Klim naar het licht
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Climbing to the light

The new Saint Bavo church in Haarlem has always been a bit of a mystery to me.  Don’t get me wrong, I find it a beautiful piece of architecture to be admired from afar while biking along the Leidsevaart or walking on the edge of the Vijfhoek.  …
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THINGS TO DO IN HAARLEM THIS SEPTEMBER

Summer may be coming to an end but there are plenty of reasons to be happy that September has arrived in Haarlem! As always we have the Dutch Language Café, our monthly drink and to celebrate the start of the cultural season, we have 3 comedy…
Poldergoud FestivalPoldergoud Festival ©
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PolderGoud Festival

PolderGoud Festival 2019   PolderGoud Festival is a blazing music festival in an industrial setting! Surprising elements are presented to you and ensure a constant shift of your attention. For anyone looking for a great festival…
Haarlem Jazz & More
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Haarlem Jazz & More 2019

Haarlem Jazz & More 2019, from Wednesday 14th of August until Sunday the 18th, promises five days of magical musical festivities! Jazz fans it's almost that time of the year again! Get ready to kick back and enjoy the smooth sounds of Haarlem…
travel kids
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Best Age to Travel with Kids

The smaller the better It doesn't seem so when you have a tiny baby and are overwhelmed with the big change in your life. But, having a toddler and having travelled with her a lot, we can assure you that the easiest…
September Events Haarlem
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THINGS TO DO IN HAARLEM THIS JULY

Summer has finally arrived to Haarlem! July in Haarlem is full of events for the whole family to enjoy, from the International Choral Biennale to a British Festival and a concert on the river and in the park,  from our Monthly Drink and Dutch…
Parksessies
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Parksessies

Park Sessions is a multidisciplinary art festival that takes place four days in a row in the Haarlemmerhout in Haarlem every summer. This monumental park is the background for an easily accessible place, where various arts, from museums,…
Spaarnestad Concert
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Spaarnestad Concert

For the fourth time a wonderful open-air concert on the water that you should not miss! The Nieuwe Gracht forms the impressive backdrop for beautiful sounds and offers space for thousands of listeners. When Saturday the 6th of July…
Climbing light
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Climbing to the light

The extensive restoration of the cathedral is almost complete and it is more beautiful than ever! To celebrate this until July 31st you can climb to almost 60 meters height and enjoy great views on a spectacular bridge from tower to tower. Making…
British Festival in Zandvoort.
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British Festival Zandvoort aan Zee

Great Britain in the Netherlands for a weekend, that's the British Festival in Zandvoort. Take the well-known double-decker bus to the various locations, eat Fish 'n Chips with a sea view, marvel at the beautiful British cars, be amazed…
Koorbiënnale
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10th International Choral Biennale Haarlem and Amsterdam

Adventurous vocal festival at the highest level. From 28 June through 7 July 2019 During its 10-day run the Choral Biennale presents some of the best international vocal ensembles of today, at the same time exploring the boundaries of choral…
Houtfestival
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Houtfestival: open-air music and dance festival

One of Haarlem’s biggest outdoor fests offers an exotic blend of music. It takes place at the Stadspark de Haarlemmerhout in Haarlem. Houtfestival is a relaxed event where people of all ages and backgrounds come. You can listen to the…
Landgoed Duin & Kruidberg
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Pentecost 2019 in Holland

Something that intrigued me ever since I first arrived in Holland is the number of Dutch public holidays specifically related to events on the Roman Catholic calendar.  It struck me and still does that a fairly non-religious country like the…
Luilak
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Luilak 2019: all-night market for plant lovers

The famous Luilakmarkt (Luilak market) from June 7th, 2019 until June 8th, 2019 is a pot and plant market which starts at 16:00 in the afternoon and goes on throughout the night until around 11:00 in the morning, Luilakochtend (Luilak morning). Besides…
strike
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DUTCH RAILWAY: FEW OR NO TRAINS ON TUESDAY

Dutch railway company NS warns travellers about next Tuesday’s public transport strike and serious bother for passengers.   Dutch railway company NS is recommending travellers avoid the train on Tuesday. They expect little…
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Haarlem & Haarlemmermeer Housing & Education Event 2019

All you need to know about finding a home and education in Haarlem & Haarlemmermeer Planning to rent, let, buy or sell a house? Wanting to know more about the Education system in the Netherlands and in the Haarlem & Haarlemmermeer…
CanadaJulie Smile
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Our 6 weeks in Canada with a baby.

Canada, a country of big cars, big buildings, big distances. We came here for a big vacation of 6 weeks with our little one-year-old daughter. For us, it’s a country of our first intercontinental travel, first travel experience outside Europe.…
short plane trip
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Quick reads for a short plane trip.

If you have read any of my previous articles, I am sure you will not be surprised to know that I am not a native English speaker. If you had the misfortune of listening to me speaking in Dutch, you could easily tell that I am neither Dutch-born.…
London with kidshttps://pixabay.com/en/users/annie_bridie-11346/
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Travel Ideas 2019: London with kids

If you have children and love travelling, London is the perfect destination for 2019. In just 3.30h by train or around 40 minutes by plane, you can land in one of the best european cities to visit with kids. Here you have a recap of my family…
women
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Haarlem's Among Best Travel Destinations for Women

A picturesque city known for being a market town, Haarlem, Netherlands bustles like a Brueghel masterpiece complete with fresh produce, lots of flowers, cheese, and busy shoppers but the beauty of Grote Markt, the city's centrepiece, is not…
Maasvlakte beach
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Maasvlakte Beach, a paradise of its own

Every summer, our little family would venture outside Rotterdam to go the beach since we are usually holed up in a nearby campsite in Oostvorne. Just a few minutes drive along the Maasvlakte 2, a massive extension of the Europoort Port…
Suriname
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Suri-where?

Why would anyone go to Suriname if you’re not a nostalgic Dutch or someone just looking for a wild adventure? Simple, this tiny country is a world itself—breaking out from its colonial history while embracing its mixed heritage. Tucked between…
road trip
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3 road trips with kids to make from the Netherlands part 1 France

Spring is already here and I am sure you have already started thinking about your next family trip. No matter if you are planning a break for the upcoming bank holidays or your summer vacations, these road trips with kids are perfect for anyone…
Tulip fields
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Tulip fields in Holland: where and when to go?

Every year, 2 million tourists come to Holland to see the Tulip fields. Most people will go to Keukenhof, and if you want to make a photo of the background with the fields, you will need to stand in a line. When to see the Tulip fields? The…
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Genieten—go enjoy yourself!

On a recent trip to Suriname, the only Dutch-speaking country in Latin America, I come to appreciate the word ‘genieten’ (verb). As a foreigner, you often hear this word from the Dutch but I seem to take it for granted because the word itself…
summer
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How to spend summer in Holland and survive?

When I just moved to Holland, my expats' friends told me I would need a summer coat! I was laughing. It's hard to believe but today I have five summer coats and five pairs of leather waterproof sneakers as I can only wear sandals during super…